Improvement in threshing-machines



2 Sheets- Sheet I. D. CAMPBELL.

Thrashing Machine No. 95,423. Patented 00:. 5,1869.

2 Sheets Sheet 2.

Patented Oct. 5, 1869.

No. 95,423n

NFEI'ERS, PNQTO-LJTHOGRAPHSR, WASHINGTOM D C.

din-mil sate against apart.

DUNCAN CAMP'BELL, OFH INDIAN TOWN, ILLINOIS.

Letters Patent No. 95,423, dated October 5-, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN THRESHING-MACHINES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying" drawings, consisting of two sheets, in which Figure 1, sheet 1,-is a side view. Figure 2, sheet 2, a view of the sieve. Figure 3, sheet 2, a detail view of the gatherer. Figure 4, sheet 2, a detail in section, showing the shaft and bearings at one side of the gatherer.

Figure 5, sheet 2, a detail of .the platform where the grain is sacked, and the devices for discharging the straw.

in binding, shocking, andv stacking grain, and in passing the same from the stack into the threshingmachine, a vast amount of labor is required.

The object of my invention is to save this labor, which I accomplish by constructing a self-feeding field- 7 it is placed.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

\A represents the body of my machine, the frame of which is so constructed that it is supported upon a single axle, centrally located, upon which are two wheels, one of which, E, is shown.

By means of well-known devices, both wheels are so connected to the axle that they. operate as drivingwheels, driving the machinery, but so acting only when having a forward movement.

O is a cog-wheel permanently attached to the axle, which, through suitable intermediate gearing, drives the cylinder, the other portions of the machinery being driven in the usual manner, except as otherwise specified.

The interior of the machine is substantially like ordinary threshlug-machines; The gearing which drives the machinery-I locate along the outside of the machine, in compact form, substantially as'shown, so that the samemay be boxed, to prevent accidents.

I so arrange the machine upon the axle that it is nearly balanced thereon, thus bringing nearly all the weight upon the wheels.

'1.) is a caster-wheel beneath the front end of the machine, serving the ordinary purposes of such a wheel. E, fig. 1, represents one side of the gatherer, which takes up the cut grain, and carries it to the cylinder.

Its construction will be understood from an inspection of fig. 3, sheet 2.

E E are the sides of the gatherer, shaped somewhat like runners, pointed at their lower ends, and so turned up that they will not run into the ground. These ends should be shod with metal, to prevent wear.

I" is a cross-bar. These sides and cross-bar form a frame, within which the operating-paits of the gatherer are placed. a

G is an endless apron, to which a number of transverse slats, a, issecured, which slats are provided with a sufiicient number of teeth, I). I

This apron runs over a shaft at each end, one end of one of which is shown at c. The lower one runs in bearings d, in which are slots.

Each bearing is secured to the side by means of a bolt and nut, and by changing the position of these bearings, the lower end 9 of the apron can be adjusted in any required position. I

Within the sides E E, and upon each shaft, are pulleys, over which run bands, (or chains may be used, running over suitable wheels,) to which the apron is secured, and by which it is carried; the shaft 0 being driven by a band from a pulley'upon the shaft of the cylinder running over the pulley c, or by suitable gearll] ilear the upper end of each side-piece E E is a bear ing, one of which, g, is seen. They are permanently secured to their respective side-pieces passing through the same. 9 is so constructed as to furnish a'bearing on the inside of E for one end oi the shaft 0. The other end of this shaft passes entirely through the other bearing.

The construction of the bearings will be seen in fig. 4-c being the shaft; g, the bearing; 2', the pulley over which the band carrying the apron passes; and h, the side of the body of themachiue.

By this arrangement the shaft 0 moves freely in these hearings, while the whole gatherer is movable, its position conforming to inequalities in the ground, and when desired, in passing from one field to another, it can be raised and secured away from the ground.

. The grain can be carried to the cylinder without the use of the apron, the slats a, with their teeth, being secured'to suitable bands, but I prefer to use the apron, it having, among other thin gs, this advantageshelled grain will be caught upon the apron, and against the slats, and be carried to the cylinder.

I adjust the angle at which the sieves are placed as follows: :The rear end of the frame, in which the sieves are placed, is supported by cords or chains attached to the outer ends of two rods or arms j, one being placed on each side of the machine, and within it.

These arms are secured to a shaft passing through.

. upon which the person bagging the grain can stand.

The grain is carried up the spout J, and discharged at 0, or o, as desired, into bags, in the usual manner; the bags standing on the platform 1?, and being thrown off at the rear when filled.

R is a railing around the platform.

The straw falls upon the fingers I, (see fig. 5,) whichare secured to a cross-rod or bar, on, one end of which is pivoted to the platform at a, and the other end is pivoted at the opposite side of the machine.

H is an arm or lever'fastened to the bar 'm, by the use of which the fingers I-can be raised or lowered at pleasure.

If the farmer desires to save his straw, it can be deposited iu piles, at suitable intervals, by lowering the fingers; if he does not wish to save it, the fingers may be down constantly, and the straw will be continuously distributed over the field, or the fingers or drop may be removed The fingers may be counterpoised by the weight w. l

The levers H and L are both within reach of the person bagging the grain.

If the sieves are made somewhat concave, as shown in fig. 2, the machine may be used on ground somewhat sloping without throwing the grain over the sides of the sieves.

On the front of the machine is a drivers seat, S.

Around the rear of the machine I place a cloth screen or curtain, N, the upper portion of which is attached directly to the machine, while the lower portionor edge is attached to a rod or rods secured to the machine at or near the bottom.

In fig. ITone side of this screen is thrown back, to show the sieves.

In windy weather the screen will protect the grain, as it falls upon the sieves, from the wind, and will also asses protect the straw from the wind. In still weather, the

curtain will not be required.

When my machine is to be used, I think it desirable to have the grain so deposited upon the stubble, as cut, thatthe heads will first be taken up by the gatherer. Reaping-machines can readily be arranged so as to do this, laying the grain in a continuous line, the grain falling on the stubble at right angles, or nearly so, with the sickle-bar.

A tongue or pole is to be attached to thefrout ot the machine.

In use, my machine is to be drawn through the field along and over the line of cut grain, which will be taken up by the gatherer, and carried to the concave and cylinder, and be threshed while the machine is in motion. I

Only two men will be required to run the machine,

and I think four horses will be all that will be required to effectually do the work.

By making the gatherer angular, the bands running over travellers, the grain may be first carried up and then down an incline to the concave, but I do not consider this form necessary.

Oastemvheels may be placed under the lower ends of the side-pieces of the gatherer.

Having thus fully described my invention,

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. The hinged or pivoted gatherer E, when provided with a revolving apron, G, and operating independently of the threshing-"cylinder or straw-carrier, substantially as specified.

2. The platibrm P, in combination with a threshing-machine, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. The arms j and lever L, when secured to a shaft, and arranged and operating substantially as specified. 4. The fingers I and rod m, in combination with the lever H or weight w, for depositing the straw in heaps,

as described.

' DUN CAN CAMPBELL.

\Vit-nesses E. A. WEST,

0. W. Bonn. 

